Silencing Lawn Mowers to Save Monarch Butterflies

A group of New Yorkers, led by Robyn Elman, has been working to protect monarch butterfly habitats in Queens and the Bronx by preventing the destruction of milkweed, the only source of nutrition for monarch caterpillars. With the help of Frank Coniglio, the director of arterial highway maintenance for New York City, they have successfully convinced the city to let the plant grow wild in about 20 patches near highways. This small victory is significant in the face of habitat loss and climate change, which have reduced the monarch population by over 80% in the past 20 years. The group also engages in citizen science efforts, such as tagging monarchs, to monitor and contribute to their survival story.